Gasp: Navigate the new password sharing rules for Netflix with this guide.
It’s happening. Netflix has been dropping spoilers about new password-sharing measures for months. This week, executives gave more details and confirmed that using your parent’s (or ex’s) Netflix account is about to become a thing of the past.
You know that all good things must come to an end. But yes, this one hurts. So, with sadness, we’ve got everything you need to know about the new Netflix password sharing rules.
In October, the streaming juggernaut announced a profile transfer. ICYMI, the feature allowed users to transfer profiles within someone else’s account to an account all their own (read: keep your viewing history and personalized recs, but earn your own membership fee).
Last week, new co-CEO Greg Peters basically declared that those little friendly nudges were now the new policy.
“We have people watching Netflix who don’t pay us as part of borrowing someone else’s credentials,” Peters said during a fourth-quarter earnings call in January. “And our goal is to actually work through that situation this year and convert a lot of those people into paid accounts or have the account owner pay for it to get enough subscriptions. But anyway, we try to monetize the viewing value we provide.”
The new rules, posted on The Netflix Help CenterInvolving:
- Streamers must define a primary location as their TV.
- All accounts and devices used to stream Netflix must be on the same Wi-Fi.
- Anyone who lives at home and wants to use Netflix on a device other than their TV will need to log into the app and watch something every 31 days.
What does this mean for your password sharing days? Are they over? What if you are travelling? How much do you have to pay for a Netflix membership? We have answers.
Has Netflix stopped password sharing?
Netflix is cracking down on password sharing by implementing several new barriers. Users must log in to their account and select a primary location for their TV. You can still stream from devices, but they must be linked to the same Wi-Fi network as your television. And you have to log into the app and stream something at least once every 31 days. You can stream on the go, but the account holder must verify you with a code.
How does Netflix know you’re sharing passwords?
Netflix suspects you’re sharing passwords if you try to stream it with an account synced to a different Wi-Fi network. The account holder must choose a primary location for their TV. All other devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi device as that TV to stream Netflix.
Will Netflix start charging for password sharing?
No. Netflix isn’t going to change you to share passwords. Instead, it essentially disables the ability to do so by making it more difficult to stream from multiple Wi-Fi sources. The good news is, a migration feature allows users to create their own accounts to transfer their profiles. That way they still have the same viewing history but have to pay for a membership.
Can I use Netflix in two different homes?
Yes, but you’ll need to take some extra steps to access the home that isn’t tied to your primary location’s Wi-Fi network. When you try to log into the account in your second home, the account holder (which could be you) is pinged. a code. If it is not you, the paying member must inform you. Enter the code and you can stream for seven days without any problems.
It’s unclear if you can repeat the process in seven days, which could mean students or people residing elsewhere during the season have to pay for two memberships.
How many devices can be signed in to Netflix at the same time?
It depends on the plan. A basic or basic-with-ads Netflix subscription can only be streamed on one device at a time. With a standard subscription, two devices can stream simultaneously. Have a premium? You can stream from four devices.
How much does Netflix cost?
It depends on your plan. The cost breakdown of the Netflix subscription is as follows:
- Ads-Based: $6.99/month
- Basic: $9.99/month
- Standard: $15.49/month
- Premium: $19.99/month
How can I use Netflix while traveling?
Beach house booked without Netflix for the summer? Love streaming shows on your commute? You are not connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your primary location TV. In this case, you or the person who has the account will receive a code. Pop it in and you can stream for seven days. Netflix hasn’t clarified whether you can do that over and over again. Netflix allows basic, standard, and premium users to download and stream content offline, potentially allowing you to download movies and shows before you travel or go to work.
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